More than 80% of cannabis users admit to driving within hours of consuming: report

New research from AAA reveals that many cannabis users drive not long after consuming, increasing the risk of impaired driving.

Cannabis use continues to rise across the U.S., and 38 states have legalized it for either recreational or medical use. But many users who enjoy the product might not be doing enough to prevent impaired driving.

According to research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, nearly 45% of cannabis users report consuming multiple times per day, and nearly 58% drive every day.

But more startling, more than 80% of users admit to driving within hours of cannabis consumption, and nearly half of users believe cannabis has “little to no impact on their driving.”

Researchers believe more needs to be done to educate cannabis users about the risks of impaired driving, including the increased likelihood of crashes, injuries and fatalities.

“Understanding what motivates cannabis consumers to drive under the influence can be helpful in developing effective safety strategies,” said Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “With insights on perceptions, decision-making, and behavior, we aim to inform policies and interventions that make our roads safer for everyone.”

The AAA Foundation also conducted two complementary studies: one analyzing cannabis consumers’ perceptions of impaired driving, and another identifying effective messaging strategies to deter the behavior.

The results of these surveys highlighted key behaviors and attitudes:

• 44.1% of users consume cannabis multiple times daily.
• 57.8% drive daily.
• 84.8% drive the same day they consume, with 53% driving within an hour or less.
• 46.9% believe cannabis does not impair their driving or even improves it.

The second study found that messaging focused on personal responsibility and safety resonated more strongly than messages that harp on the legal risks.

Respondents also said they preferred “realistic, positive, and diverse messaging that avoids exaggerated stereotypes.”

It was also found that cannabis users tend to trust the cannabis industry, giving policymakers and traffic safety groups added incentive to partner with the industry on tailoring messages that cannabis users can relate to.

“Effective messaging about cannabis-impaired driving needs to include credible voices, real-world scenarios, and respectful language,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy.

Targeted public education campaigns efforts should address common misconceptions while highlighting how cannabis can impair driving abilities in complex ways, such as causing fatigue, brain fog and altered perception, AAA researchers said.

For more information about these studies by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, click here.